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TLV: IC Inbox

You've reached Timothy Stoker, leave a message at the tone and I'll get back to you.

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There we go.

[It's more of a whisper under his breath, quiet to himself at seeing Jacobi finally snap. He's not even sure he can feel bad - his aching jaw certainly doesn't.]

He got scared. That doesn't meant you can just-- blow up about it. None of us want you to, and you know it won't make things better.

None of you want me to. Sure you don't.

You're telling me that you don't want to see him hurt the way he hurt you?

That's not the question.

[But he has to breathe through it, because if he gives in to admitting that yes, he does, he wants Elias to feel every inch of suffering he's ever inflicted on the people he's harmed, just to start with, he's already lost.]

We know better. There's no getting rid of him unless he chooses to leave. And you lashing out is going to get us hurt. Because I can't control my Inmate. Because Jon's setting people on an innocent Inmate. Because we, as three wardens, are encouraging people to kill someone we don't like.

[All the 'because' are bitter-sharp and scathing, hypotheticals that could be very real in very short order.]

You're not stupid, Jacobi, fucking act like it.

What the fuck do you think I was doing?

[And he stands up then, getting in his face.]

Protecting you that way. Doing what I had to to save you from him and from me and from the others. But noooo. Because you had to go and push too hard, now it's all fucked.

He's going to hate you.

[Jacobi quiets after that, his next words sharp but soft. Because Warren was right about him- he knows how to break things. How to hurt people. How to dig where it matters.]

Is this because you couldn't protect Danny? You don't think I can do it just because you failed, too?

[He was expecting that.

But it doesn't stop him from blinking sharply, or how he leans away with raw hurt in his eyes. His lips press tight for a moment, as he takes a deep breath in and just. Nods, sighs, once.

He steps away from Jacobi and looks away without hesitation, moving to the door in too-casual strides so he can unlock it.]

Get out.

[Success shouldn't feel like this. This is what he wanted. He's free; he gets to go. But as he takes those angry steps towards the door and to the hall, there's a heavy feeling in his chest.

He did what he had to.

But that hurt on Tim's face -

Was it worth it?]

[It says a lot that the vibrant, animated researcher is stiff and silent as Jacobi leaves, and closes the door so quietly that it's only the click of the lock again that gives it away.

And the soft thud, as he presses his back to the door and slides into a curled-up pile on the floor against it, blowing out a shaky exhale.

He bloody hopes that was worth it.]

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